By John Manuel
March 11, 2004

When Kevin Stocker played college baseball, attendance wasn't quite at the level it is now.

"Our crowds were parents and girlfriends," says the former big league shortstop, a two-time all-Pacific-10 selection when he played at Washington from 1989-91. "I look at some of these college attendance figures sometimes and can't believe how much it's changed. It's fantastic."

Then Stocker is asked about tonight's game between Houston and San Diego State, with the two college teams christening the new Padres ballpark to open the Petco Park Invitational. As of Wednesday, advance sales were at 34,977, meaning the game will easily surpass the NCAA regular-season record of 27,673 set in Louisiana State's 9-5 victory against Tulane in the Louisiana Superdome on April 10, 2002.

"We passed the 27,000 mark a couple of weeks ago," San Diego State sports information staffer Dave Kuhn said on the eve of the game. "Now we're just trying to get over 40,000 with the walk-up."

"Isn't that cool?" Stocker says. "I'd be dying as a player to play in a game like that. I'm really excited and honored to be a part of it."

Stocker will play a small role, but it's a significant one. He'll be the color analyst on CSTV's broadcast of the game, which starts tonight at 7 p.m. Pacific.

With Mike Crispino doing the play-by-play, tonight's landmark game will kick off CSTV's college baseball coverage, which is more extensive in the network's second year than in its first. While fans will have to wait three more weeks for another game, CSTV will broadcast nine other regular-season games nationally, with Stocker as the color analyst for all of them.

"We absolutely were trying to establish a national voice for college baseball," says Joel Feld, CSTV's executive vice president of production. "We had a list of guys we auditioned, because we want to find new, young, untapped talent. We want to develop our own guys.

"Kevin has never done anything like this, but there was something about him we liked."

Stocker says he doesn't have a schtick yet to help him stick out like a Dick Vitale, and he doesn't have the pedigree of a Keith Jackson. Like those two broadcasters, though, Stocker broadcasts college games only.

"I have to come up with a style to be like Vitale, right?" Stocker jokes. "I just know that when I played, we wanted to be on TV; we really wanted to be in the marquee games like this game is, even in the big leagues.

"I hope we have a chance to fill that kind of role, because the guys at CSTV, they are motivated. They are putting everything they have into this, and they want to tell the great stories that are going on in college baseball."

Stocker has prepped for his job by staying around college baseball as much as he can since retiring in 2001. He coached a team in the Pacific International League last summer with mostly college players on the roster, and he has worked as the radio analyst for Gonzaga baseball, as he lives in Spokane, Wash. Getting back around the college game, Stocker says he's noticing some differences between it and pro ball, just as Tony Gwynn has since taking over San Diego State's program last season.

"I think everyone just expected that Tony would step right in and they'd all start hitting like Tony did, but it doesn't work like that," Stocker said. "This is something I intend to ask Tony, but my impression is, college players want a lot more structure than you get in pro ball. I think Tony has had to learn that.

"I think players need to learn to think for themselves. A lot of them are afraid to make mistakes, afraid to upset their coach, and it handcuffs them."

CSTV has chosen its schedule well, so Stocker should see some good games. The second game on the schedule is the April 3 Long Beach State-Cal State Fullerton matchup, an excellent rivalry. We'll start begging Beach coach Mike Weathers right now to hold Jered Weaver back for a Saturday start so the nation can see the college game's hottest pitcher. If not, we'll have to wait for the Dirtbags' May 28 game at Miami, CSTV's last regular-season broadcast.

The schedule also includes two games at Nebraska's Hawks Field at Haymarket Park, one of the nation's top ballparks, as well as two games featuring defending College World Series champion Rice, including its fourth game against Texas. The Longhorns have won the first three matchups, including a 5-0 victory Tuesday.

Wisely, CSTV's schedule finishes with three Friday night games. One problem with college baseball on TV is Friday night is the best game of the series usually because of the pitching matchup, but it's not a good night for TV. Saturday and Sunday games are more frequently on TV, and often these games (especially Sundays) are not as well-played or as well-pitched.

CSTV is new to everything, but it appears the network is getting it. In tonight's game, Gwynn and Houston coach Rayner Noble have agreed to wear live microphones during the game as they talk strategy and instruct players. CSTV will lead up to the game with the latest installment of its Nike Training Camp series, profiling Gwynn's new career as head coach at his alma mater.

Founded by the same duo that came up with the Classic Sports Network (now ESPN Classic), CSTV is one of cable TV's fastest growing networks and recently signed a deal to get the channel into Time Warner Cable's markets, a huge step to getting the network more exposure.

"This is a great way to kick off our coverage," Feld said, "with a record crowd in the new home of the San Diego Padres. And it's a place that doesn't get a lot of rain."

If only the Aztecs and Cougars were off to better starts for the feature tonight. Houston is just 5-10, thanks to a brutal schedule and a disappointing pitching staff that has compiled a 5.48 ERA. Junior righthander Garrett Mock, who some considered a possible first-round pick entering the season, has just had an awful start--0-4, 8.15 with 27 hits allowed in 17 2/3 innings. He's also walked 12 while striking out just five. Last year, Mock went 5-4, 4.50.

Another Cougar counted on to shine, junior college transfer Rob Johnson, also is struggling (.196-0-5). The Cougars have had a nice bounce-back year from veterans such as Brett Cooley (.333-3-14; 1-0, 3.72), a senior DH/righthander who missed 2003 with a leg injury, and junior shortstop Stuart Musslewhite (.350-1-13), who is past his sophomore slump.

San Diego State, meanwhile, is just 9-15 in Gwynn's second year as coach. The Aztecs had their best weekend of the year recently, beating then-No. 24 North Carolina State twice in a three-game series. The Aztecs continue to struggle at the plate, hitting just .251 as a team.

Senior righthander Ryan Schroyer, the transfer from Arizona State, is getting plenty of work for the Aztecs, having worked a team-high 11 games. He's off to a 2-3, 4.00 start with four saves.

The rest of the tournament field includes ninth-ranked Long Beach State, Nebraska, UCLA and locals San Diego, UC San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene. The event will have three games each day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.